words have meaning

The Lyric Lounge is a film series based on songwriters and, more specifically, their lyrics. Connections Media invites singer-songwriters to share their music and words in an intimate, stripped-down environment, as we believe that words have meaning. Watch full-length Lyric Lounge sessions below.

Cayla Fralick

Town of Birth: Columbia, SCOccupation/Job/Life Purpose Work: I’m a writer, musician, and a teacher and I love being all of those equally. I am currently teaching a few sections of Rhetoric and Composition at University of South Carolina and, in the evenings, am working on a full-length record. When I have spare time, I tinker away at revisions of a few short stories I wrote in graduate school.

Thoughts on “AN IDEA”

“The record and teaching has stolen most of my focus, but every so often a new story idea floats through and I try and do something with that. This is one of my favorite things about writing (there are many)—the feeling that you need to catch an idea or thought or something before it gets away. Like, feeling smart and inspired for a brief moment—because so much of writing is the opposite of this.”

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Fade in. Interior of an apartment, evening. You’re home alone, staring at the wall. Music plays. You’re daydreaming, feeling nostalgic. As you reminisce, feelings of longing take over. You’re in a funk, in a haze. Wish you would snap out of it, but you are unable or unwilling to help yourself.

Most of us have found ourselves in a such a state. In “Help Me,” Cayla Fralick conveys that sticky feeling of nostalgia and the lethargy that often accompanies it. The inability to lasso your mind in as it retreats back, remembering, warping your perception of the present and altogether ignoring the concept of future.

Cayla’s haunting latest release (and first release from a forthcoming full length album), “Some Hotel” shares similar themes of nostalgia, loneliness, and day-dreaminess. Listening to either of Fralick’s songs, it is unsurprising that she is also a writer of short stories. Her songwriting illustrates fully-developed scenes and context, demonstrates self awareness, and creates enthralling moods.

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Some things about Cayla you may not know

Favorite 80s jam?Squeeze, “Black Coffee in Bed”

Name 3 favoritesPodcasts, potatoes, & my dog, Ziva

What is one thing you make sure to do/one place you make sure to go to when you come to Charleston?My family and I go to Folly every summer, but I always sneak away for an afternoon to spend an hour or two at Kudu and then I walk to Blue Bicycle Books.

What makes a good story?Complex and interesting characters that I care for. Mood & tone can make or break a story too, I think.

What do you recommend everyone try at least once?Traveling alone somewhere, even if it’s just a day trip to a different city or small town.

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Thoughts on “CREATIVE FLOW”

“I feel creative and perceptive when I’m on long drives alone. Something about being stationary but also in motion, I guess.”

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Though Cayla Fralick doesn’t have much music out (yet) on online platforms, she is busily creating and recording her first full-length album. In the meantime, Cayla played “Help Me” for us during our live Lyric Lounge session and we are so pleased to share it with you here today.

Help Me

I need sleep; put the fire outI’m getting nowhere tonightI see facesIn the patterns on the wall

Close my eyes I see old friendsSome of them I wish I’d have kissedHelp me

It’s just the same old thingSame pitiful daydreamI’ll wait for clarityFor it to find its way to me

I need sleep; put the fire outI’m getting nowhere tonightI see facesIn the patterns on the wall

Close my eyes I see old friendsSome of them I think I missHelp me

I’ve got music in the houseAnd you are out of townI’m aching for the right melodyI want to sink into that sound

LongingI feel it every dayIf I’m the damsel on the trackThen that might be the train

I need sleep; put the fire outI’m getting nowhere tonightI see facesIn the patterns on the wall

Close my eyes I see old friendsSome of them I think I missHelp me

If you could call me outJust one more timeYeah, that’ll be the one toReally get me into line

HelplessI claim to be it every dayI wish I weren’t the damselOh I wish I were the train